What is Cascade Network?

Cascade Network is a knowledge sharing network designed with communities towards the creation of self-sovereign cultural and communication networks. Making use of emerging technologies like Mixed Reality, Web VR and blockchain, we explore techniques of 360 video, binaural audio recording, photogrammetry as well as more experimental interactive solutions to document stories, wisdom and oral tradition with techniques that emphasise embodied communication and the land. Each network is designed and owned by the community itself.

Our mission is to put emerging communication technologies in service to the communication and cultural needs faced by communities relocating or in transition.

Beginnings

The Cascade Network was born at the Climate Talks in Paris 2015. The Cop21 clustered activists, artists, technologists and earth citizens to stand together for the planet and listen to the communities on the front lines of the Climate Crisis.

In Paris, a working relationship with the Leweton Community in Vanuatu and the NGO [Further Arts](http://www.furtherarts.org/) was born through artists Leah Barclay, Toby Gifford and Katharine Vega.

Creative communities

The Cascade grew with strong relationships between the Leweton Community, Further Arts, TransArtAlliance, The Water Bearers, Intercreate, Hitnet and WISN and connects those working for arts, media and indigenous rights.

During the evacutation of Ambae, the Ambae community asked Further Arts to support them in recording the stories of the island as community members permanently relocate to nearby islands. This invitation galvanised the Cascade Network to explore mobilising the creative and radical potentials of emerging digital technologies towards holding cultural knowledge and ensuring cultural sovereignty for communities.

The network works together with the intention that - with trust, care and mutual respect - progressive technology solutions emerging can strengthen and respect creative cultural ownership and diverse ways of knowing.